Portable derrick having lateral movement



Aug. 15, 1961 J. A. PODLESAK 2,996,196

PORTABLE DERRICK HAVING LATERAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN A. PODLESAK Aug. 15, 1961 J. A. PODLESAKPORTABLE DERRICK HAVING LATERAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1961 J. A. PODLESAK PORTABLE DERRICK HAVINGLATERAL MOVEMENT Filed Dec. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 3 FIG .5

RfSERVO/R FIG 6 INVENTOR. JOHN A. PODLESAK BY M MWM United States Patent2,996,196 PORTABLE DERRICK HAVING LATERAL MOVEMENT John A. Podlesak, SanLeandro, Califl, nssignor to Utility Body Company, Oakland, Calif., acorporation of Cali- Filed Dec. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 7 82,456 2 Claims.(Cl. 212-35) erable degree of mobility and versatility is desired.Derricks of this type are conventionally provided with an elongated boomhaving a head sheave at the outer end thereof for supporting a hoistline connected to a drum hoist or the like carried by the vehicle. Theboom is generally mounted on the vehicle for swinging through agenerally vertical are for positioning the head sheave at variousheights in a vertical plane generally bisecting the vehicle.

This conventional construction constitutes a limitation on theversatility of the vehicle mounted derrick due to the fact that themovement of the head sheave and thereby the effective line of action ofthe hoist is restricted to suchvertical plane. In order for the headsheave of the conventional utility derrick to be positioned properly forPatented Aug. 15, 1961 FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of aportion of one of the side legs of the derrick boom as seen generallyfrom line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of the base portionof the derrick of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged isometric view of the means connecting thethird leg of the derrick to the base member and the hoist line guiderollers supported on said base member; and,

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of the head sheaveassembly of the derrick of this invention.

In detail, the derrick of this invention, generally designated 1 (FIGS.1, 2), is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body 2 having ground wheels3. Vehicle 2 may beof the utility service type adapted to carry both menand equipment to job sites for installation and repair of utility polesand various other equipment.

The derrick I mounted on vehicle 2 adds considerably to the utility ofsuch vehicle by performing such useful tmksas loading and unloading thevehicle bed, lifting and moving various loads, and supporting varioustools and the like during their operation. Since vehicles of the typeherein referred to are intended to travel under a wide variety ofcircumstances both on and elf conventional roads and highways, thederrick is preferably mounted on the upper portion of the vehicle body 2and is capable some lifting jobs it becomes necessary to move the entirevehicle to an effective position. Not only does such movement of thevehicle entail more time and effort on the job but it may beimpossiblein restricted locations where movement of the vehicle is limited orprevented by obstructions. v

It is therefore a main object of this invention to provide a vehiclemounted derrick .having substantially greater posltioning versatilitythan has heretofore been possible.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a portable derrickcapable of both longitudinal and substantial lateral movement.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a three-leggedderrick, adapted to be carried by'a vehicle,

in which all three legs are capable of independent, power drivenelongation and contraction.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a derrick,pivotally mounted on a vehicle and having .a head sheave, which headsheave may be positioned both vertically in line with the longitudinalaxis of the vehicle as well as substantially laterally of such vehicleaxis.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a vehicle mountedderrick having a head sheave at the outer end thereof capable of bothup-and-down and sideto-side swinging movement and inwhich said headsheave is automatically aligned in a vertical plane by the tension onthe hoist cable extending thercover.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the derrick of this inventionmounted on a vehicle, showing the vertical or longitudinal range throughwhich the derrick may be operated and extended;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the vehicle and derrick of FIG. 1showing the lateral range through which the derrick may be operated;

FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic view of the hydraulic operating and controlmeans of the derrick in FIG. 1; J a

' pivots of assuming a generally horizontal stored position over the topof the vehicle body 2 as shown in FIG. 1.

In general, derrick 1 includes a base member 4, a pair of elongated,extensible boom legs 5, and a third, or middle, extensible leg orcylinder means 6.

The base member 4 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) is a generally U-shaped frame formedfrom tubular members or pipes welded together and including a pair ofside members 7, 8 with bracket extensions 9, 10 at one end, and atransverse member 11 rigidly connecting the other corresponding ends ofeach side member. Braces 12 (FIG. 2) may extendbetween the side members7, 8 and member 11 for providing strength and rigidity to base member 4.

Base member 4 is adapted to be mounted on the upper portion of vehiclebody 2 for tilting movement between a generally horizontal storedposition to an angular position inclined to the horizontal (FIG. 1).Means for so mounting base member 4 are provided by a pair of brackets13, 14 supported at spaced points on the upper rear end of vehicle body2 and having axially aligned 15 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) which extend through thebracket extensions 9, 10 on members 7, 8. In this manner base member 4is supported for swinging movement in a generally vertical are about thecommon horizontal axis of pivots 15, which axis extends generallytransversely of the vehicle body 2.

Means for so swinging base member 4 is provided in the preferable formof an hydraulic cylinder 27 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5) including an internal piston28 having its piston rod 29 projecting outwardly of one end of saidcylinder.

" The other end of cylinder 27 and the outer end of rod 29 may berespectively pivotally connected to a bracket 13, at a point spaced frompivot 15 as by pivot 30, and a bracket 31 secured to cross member 11, asby pivot 32.

The range of extension of cylinder and piston 27-29 is such that in itsfully contracted position base member 4 extends generally horizontallyover the top of vehicle 2 in a stored position, indicated at 33 inFIG. 1. With rod 29 projecting to its fullest extent from cylinder 27base member 4 is supported in an operating position projecting angularlyupwardly from vehicle body 2 (FIGS. 1, 5). The above described structureis generally similar to that disclosed in co-pending application SerialNo. 735,880, filed May 16, 1958 by Howard C. Hansen. It

'5 will be understood that the booster cylinder mechanism 27-29 hereindescribed may be applied to either or both sides of base member 4 andthat the connection of the lower end of cylinder 27 may be made at anysuitable location on vehicle body 2 or its superstructure. It will befurther understood that the improved derrick, to be hereinafterdescribed, does not rely on the particular base member structuredescribed but may be generally applied to various derrick forms. Thepurpose of providing swingable base member 4 and its associated powertilting means is for the purpose of increasing the range of swinging ofboom 5 from the horizontal stored position 33 (FIG. 1) to an extremeoperating position 34 substantially more than 180 removed from saidstored position, as described in said co-pending application.

Boom 5 comprises a pair of elongated, diverging legs, each includingouter and inner portions 16, 17, respectivcly (FIGS. 1, 2, 4). Theadjacent ends of portions 16,, 17 of each boom leg are received in asleeve 18 which is secured as by welding to one of. said portions 17(FIG. 4) permitting the other portion 16 to be longitudinally,telescopically slidable with respect. to said sleeve. In this manner,each of the boom legs 5 may be extended or contracted in length betweenits opposite ends by longitudinally sliding one of its portions 16 withrespect to its other portion 17.

Means for so extending and contracting each boom leg 5 is preierablyprovided by double acting hydraulic cylinder means including anhydraulic cylinder 19 (FIGS. 3, 4), secured to a portion 17, having aninternal. piston. 2.0. from which a rod 21 extends outwardly ofv one endof cylinder 19 and is secured, as by a welded crosspiece 76 (FIG. 4) tothe adjacent endof a corresponding porden 16. Obviously, cylinder means19-411 may be in? verted or positioned externally of portions 16, 17.,itbeing necessary only that opposite ends of said cylinder means beconnected between adjacent ends of said portions for the describedpurpose of sliding said portions apart and together for extending andcontracting a boom leg 5. It will be noted that mounting cylinder means19-21 axially within portions 16, 17 permits rotation about. theircommon longitudinal axes of one portion with respect to the other.

The diverging ends of portions 17 of. boom legs 5 are connected tobracket extensions 9 by universal pivot means or universal pivotalconnections, generally designated 22 (FIGS. 1, 2, S). Said connectionseach provide for rotation about a pair of pivot pins 23, 24 (FIG. 5)having mutually perpendicular axes. The pivot pins 23 are aiigned orhave a common, generally horizontal axis extending transversely ofvehicle 2 and generally parallel to the common axis of pivots 15. Theboom legs 5 are, by this construction, swingable together as a unitabout the common axis of pivot pins 23 or each separately swingableabout the axis of one of pivot pins 24. It will be understood thatspherical hearings, or the like may be used for connections 22 insteadof, the specific form pivots shown.

The opposite, adjacent ends of portions 16 of boom, legs 5 are pivotallyconnected to the shaft 26 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7) of a head sheave assembly,generally designated 25. This connection permits boom legs 5 to swing asa unit thereby variously positioning head sheave assembly 25 in avertical plane (FIG. 1) extending longitudinally of vehicle 2 or, uponextension of one of said boom legs, laterally of said vertical plane(FIG. 2).

Means for so swinging said boom legs about the com,- rnonaxis of pivotpins 23 may be provided by thirdleg 6 which preferably compriseselongated hydraulic cylinder means including an h draulic cylinder 40(FIGS. 1-3), an internal piston 41, and its piston rod 42 projectingoutwardly of one end of cylinder 40. For purposes of swinging boom legs5 in both directions under power, cylinder means 40-42 is preferablydouble acting and heads-opposite ends respectively connected to boomlegs extending 5 and base member 4 at points remote from pivotalconnections 22.

The outer end of cylinder 40 may be secured, as by welding, to headsheave assembly 25, whereas the opposite or inner end of piston rod 42is preferably connected by universal pivot means, generally designated35 (FIGS. 2, 6) to cross member 11 of base member 4. Pivot means 35 maybe in the form of a sleeve 36 (FIG. 6) journalled on a tubular member37, forming a portion of cross member 11, for rotation about thelongitudinal axis thereof. Sleeve 36 is provided with a yoke 38 to whichthe end of rod 42 is swingably connected as by pivot pin 39. It will benoted that the axis of pivot pin 39 is perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of sleeve 36 thereby providing for universal swing of saidpiston rod in much the same manner as portions 17 of boom legs 5.

It will be noted that extension and contraction of hydrauliccylindermeans 40-42 will cause boom legs 5 to swing about the generallyhorizontal common axis of pivot pins 23. It will be further understoodthat this swinging as well as the side to side swinging caused byextension. or contraction of boom legs 5 may be accomplished by powermeans other than hydraulic cylinder means, Although pulley and cable orgear means may be used to power the boom legs through their variousdescribed movemen the,hydra'ulic cylinder means herein described arebelieved to be the simplest and most practical expedient.

We pair of bracket links 43, one of each pair of whichis secured tosleeve 36, may support a pair of parallelspaced idler rollers 44 forrotation about axes generally parallel to cross member 11. The hoistcable 45. fr,om'a powered winch drum 46, conventionally carried byvehicle 2, is adapted to extend between rollers44 (FIG. 6) so as to beguided over cross member 11 units way to head sheave assembly 25. Itwill be noted that bracket links 43 and thereby rollers 44 swing aboutthe axis of tubular member 37 with yoke 38 so as to maintain the properclearance spacing of cable 45 over cross member 11 and sleeve 36 nomatter what the angularity of cylinder means 40-42 with respect to basemember l.

A pair of spaced, parallel guide rollers 47 are preferably mounted forrotation about axes generally perpendicular to the axes of rotation ofidler rollers 44 by a bracket 48, supported on yoke 38. Hoist cable 45further extends between said guide rollers so as to not be pulled to theends of idler rollers 44 and bind against bracket links 43 upon swinginghead sheave assembly substantially to one side of the verticallongitudinal plane of vehicle 2. 'In other words, since winch drum 36 ismounted generally centrally of vehicle '2, guide rollers 47 train hoist,cable 45 in the central plane of the vehicle from said winch drum to theinner end of third leg 6 and then generally parallel to said third legto head sheave assembly 25.

By thus guiding hoist cable 45 the pull thereon is always parallelwiththird leg 6 and the load on the cable is substantially equallydistributed between side legs 5.

The head sheave assembly 25 at the outer ends of legs 5 and 6 includes asheave or pulley 49 which car ries hoist cable 45 over its periphery(FIG. 7). Pulley 49 is rotatably supported on a shaft 26 in a housingcomprising a pair of plates in spaced parallel relation to oppositesides of said pulley, said plates may be held in such spaced relation bya bolt.51 and sleeve spacer 52 at one corner and end brackets 53, 54 atthe other corners thereof. The outer sides of plates 50 are pref-Lorably provided with stifiening members 55 and spacer channels 56 weldedthereto and through which shaft 26 projects. An eye- 57 at the outer endof the outer portion 16'of each boom leg 5 rotatably receives oppositeends of shaft 26 therethrough for pivotally mounting head sheaveassembly-25 to said boom legs, as previously described- The lower endbracket 54 preferably extends across and is welded to the lower ends ofplates 50 and stiflentioned connection between said third leg and headpulley assembly 25.

Since the two portions 40 and 42 of the hydraulic cylinder meanscomprising third leg 6 are rotatable with respect to each other andsince portions 16 of boom legs 5 are pivotally connected through headsheave assembly 25, said head sheave assembly may tilt or swing to somedegree about the longitudinal axis of third leg 6. Especially when oneof the side legs 5 is extended to position assembly 25 laterally of thevehicle (FIG. 2), said head sheave assemby may be tilted out of itsnormal vertical plane generally bisecting the angle between side legs 5.In order to return the cocked head sheave assembly to a vertical planeto prevent hoist cable 45 from running off the periphery of pulley 49, apair of elongated, parallel, spaced rollers 58 are rotatably mountedbetween brackets 53, 54. The space between rollers 58 in a plane withthe periphery of head sheave 49 and hoist cable 45 extends through saidspace. Since any free load on the downwardly extending run of hoistcable 45 will tend to bring said run to the vertical, said run of thecable will be urged against one of the rollers 1 58 to tend to alignhead pulley 49 in a vertical plane lincluding said run of cable. be usedfor pulling at an angle olf the vertical, it will If hoist cable 45should in a like manner, tend to align assembly 25 and thereby lgreadpulley 49 with the runs of cable extending there- Included in ahydraulic system ous, previously described hydraulic cylinder means area hydraulic reservoir 59 (FIG. 3), a pump 60 drawing fluid from saidreservoir through a conduit 61 and pumping it out through a highpressure conduit or line 62, and operating valves 63, 64, 65,respectively for each of the two side leg cylinders 19 and the third legcylinder 40. Each said valve receives high pressure hydraulic fluidthrough a branch line 66 and is provided with a branch return line 67connected by main return line 68 to reservoir 59.

Valves 63, 64, 65 ing an inoperative position, hydraulic fluid from thepump to the reservoir and two, opposed operative positions. Each saidvalve is provided with a control handle 69, which is spring urged tosaid inoperative position and may be manually on erated to move thevalve to either of its said operative positions. The operating ports ofeach of said valves are connected by conduits or lines 70, 71 to theopposite ends of its respective hydraulic cylinder means. In addition, abranch line 72 is provided to booster cylinder 27 from one of the lines70 to third leg cylinder 40. 'In operation, assuming that all thehydraulic cylinder means are in the collapsed position of shortestlength whereby the derrick will be in the stored position 33 (FIG. 1),operation of valve 65 to one of its operative positions will cause highpressure fluid from pump 60 to flow through lines 70 and line 72. Asdescribed in said co-pending application Serial No. 735,880 theresistance to movement of piston 41 of hydraulic cylinder means 40 isgreater than the resistance to movement of piston 28 in booster cylinder27. The high pressure fluid in lines 70, 72 will therefore first causeoutward movement of piston rod 29 thereby lifting base member 4, and thederrick legs 5, 6 that are resting thereon, from the stored position 33(FIG. 1) to the upright position indicated at 73. It will be noted thatcylinder means 27-29 is lifting the weight of base member 4 and legs 5and 6 against gravity and therefore need only be a single actingcylinder, since the dern'ck will be returned to the stored position 33by gravity. The provision of supports 78 (FIGS. 1, 2) toward the forwardend of vehicle 2 for supporting the derrick in its stored for operatingthe variare of the conventional type havin which they circulate the 6position, and the provision of coil springs 74 (FIG. 5) to cushionside'legs 5 against base member 4 are desir* able adjuncts to thisinvention.

Once cylinder means 27-29 has reached the end of its stroke and supportsthe derrick in the position 73' of FIG. 1, the flow of further highpressure fluid in conduit or line 70 will cause moveme tof piston 41thereby extending rod 42 of third leg 6. During this movement returnflow from the opposite side of piston 41 will be through line 71 andvalve 65 to reservoir 59. This extension of third leg 6 causes swingingof boom side legs 5 through a generally vertical arc to a variety ofoperating positions including the extreme position 34 of FIG. 1.

Operation of either of the valves 63, 64 to one of its operatingpositions causing flow of high pressure fluid in its respective conduit70 will cause movement of the corresponding piston 20 and therebyelongation of the corresponding side leg. Return fluid from the oppositeside of piston 20 will flow through line 71, the valve 63 or 64, andlines 67, 68 to reservoir 59. This extension of one of the side legs 5will cause the derrick to move laterally of the vehicle therebypositioning head sheave assembly 25 to the side of said vehicle (FIG. 2)depending upon which of said side legs is elongated.

Elongation of both side legs 5 to the same degree causes overallextension of the derrick, that is, positioning of head sheave assembly25 at a distance more remote from vehicle 2, as indicated at 75 inFIG. 1. Obviously, operation of valves 63, 64, 65 to their otheroperating positions will cause reversal of the movement previouslydescribed, since the cylinders 19 and 40 are double acting. In thereverse operation the function of lines 70 and 71 carrying high pressurefluid and return fluid will also be reversed.

It will be noted that with the structure and controls herein describedthe derrick of this invention possesses great versatility. Not only maythe head sheave be positioned through a substantial range of verticalmovement but it may also be swung laterally of the vehicle on which thederrick is mounted. Further, the length of the derrick boom may beincreased by extending both the side legs in the manner described.

Although it has been described and illustrated in detail it is notintended that the invention disclosed herein should be limited beyondthe spirited scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable derrick comprising: a base member, a pair of elongatedexteus'ble side legs extending from spaced ends adpacent said basemember convergently toward the outer ends thereof remote from said basemember, universal pivotal connections connecting each said side leg tosaid base member for swinging about mutually perpendicular axes, a headsheave assembly including a housing and a pulley rotatably mounted on ashaft extending through said housing, means connecting said outer endsof said side legs to said assembly at opposite ends of said shaft forrotatably supporting said pulley in a plane generally bisecting theangle between said side legs; an elongated, extensible third leg,universal pivot means connecting one end of said third leg to said basemember at a point spaced from said pivotal/connections for swinging saidthird leg about mutually perpendicular axes, means securing the otherend of said third leg to said housing, double-acting hydraulic cylindermeans connected to each of said legs for extending and contracting saidlegs for respectively swinging said legs about said axes of said pivotalconnections and said pivot means, and a pair of generally parallel,spaced rollers mounted on said housing with the space therebetweenpositioned in said plane whereby a hoist cable extending over saidpulley will extend through said space between said rollers for aligningsaid pulley with said cable.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a load carrying body, a derrickcomprising: a base member pivotally 7 mounted at one end on said bodyfor swinging about a first horizontal axis extending transversely ofsaid body, an extensible boom pivotally connected at one end to saidbase vmember at a point spaced from said axis for universal movementabout a horizontal axis and about an axis perpendicular to saidhorizontal axis, a pair of extendable legs pivotally connected togetherat their corresponding ends and to the end of said boom opposite saidone end, said pair of extendable legs being pivotally connected at theiropposite ends to said base member at spaced points along said transverseaxis and on opposite sides respectively of the point at which said boomis connected for universal movement of said legs about a horizontal axisand about an axis perpendicular to said last mentioned horizontal axis,means for selectively extending the effective length of. said. boom andsaid legs to permit swinging said boom through a vertical planeextending longitudinally of said body and laterally of said plane, andmeans for swinging said base in said vertical plane independently ofsaid boom and legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,601,927 Frenzel July 1, 1952 2,838,182 Brown June 10, 1958 2,919,035Troche Dec. 29, 1959 2,925,922 FrenZel Feb. 23, 1960

